villages of decker oaks - february 2016

Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc. Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - February 2016 1

VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKS

WELCOME TO VILLAGE OF

DECKER OAKS HOA NEWS

ANewsletterfor the Village of Decker Oaks

CommunityThe Vi l l age o f Decker

Oaks Newsletter is a monthly newsletter mailed to all Village of Decker Oaks residents. Each newsletter will be filled with valuable information about the community, local area activities, school information, and more.

If you are involved with a school group, play group, scouts, sports team, social group, etc., and would like to submit an article for the newsletter, you can do so online at www.PEELinc.com. Personal news (announcements, accolades/ honors/ celebrations, etc.) are also welcome as long as they are from area residents.

GO GREEN! Subscribe via Peelinc.com to have an email sent to you with a link to a PDF of the newsletter, or have an email sent to you instead of having a newsletter mailed to you!

FEBRUARY 2016 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 2

Decker OaksV I L L A G E O F

February 23, 2016March 21, 2016April 18, 2016

Meetings start after executive session at 7pm.Please note the signs will no longer be used

and will be posted in the newsletter and online.Please go to SCSGO for official community

news as the newsletter will not be the official posting space as information may change after

production.

UPCOMING BOARD MEETING DATES:

2 Village of Decker Oaks Community Newsletter - February 2016 Copyright © 2016 Peel, Inc.


IMPORTANT NUMBERSASSOCIATION MANAGEMENT CO.:SCS Management Services, Inc.Phone: ............................................................. 281-463-1777Fax: ................................................................ 281-463-0050 ..................................................... 7170 Cherry Park Drive ...........................................................Houston, TX 77095Website: .........................................................www.scsgo.com Association Manager Jessica Smith .................................................... 281-500-7129 Service ManagerJessica Riggs .................................................... 281-500-7111Deed Restriction CoordinatorSusan Spratley ................................................ 281-500-7118

FIRE DEPARTMENT:Cy Fair VFD ................................................... 281-550-6663

HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF Sheriff Dispatch .............................................. 713-221-6000

SCHOOL DISTRICT:Cy Fair ISD ..................................................... 281-897-4000

WATER DISTRICT MUD 10 ......................................................... 832-467-1599

HEALTH DEPARTMENTHarris County ................................................. 713-274-6300

CYPRESS POINT RECREATION ROOM RENTALVoicemail ........................................................ 281-256-1579

ELECTRIC COMPANY/ OUTAGESCenterpoint ..................................................... 713-207-2222http://www.centerpointenergy.com/en-us/residential/in-your-community/electric-outage-center/report-streetlight-outages

GARBAGE SERVICEBest Trash ....................................................... 281-313-2378

(Service is contracted through the MUD and trash pickup is on Wednesday and Saturday)

HELPFUL NUMBERS Montgomery County Constables ................... 281-356-3883 WCA ............................................................. 281-766-1914 Enviro Waste Systems .................................... 936-264-3001 Hughes Natural Gas ...................................... 281-356-8241 Quadvest ....................................................... 281-356-5347

At no time will any source be allowed to use the Village of Decker Oaks Newsletter contents, or loan said contents, to others in anyway, shape or form, nor in any media, website, print, film, e-mail, electrostatic copy, fax, or etc. for the purpose of solicitation, commercial use, or any use for profit, political campaigns, or other self amplification, under penalty of law without written or expressed permission from the Village of Decker Oaks Homeowners Association and Peel Inc. The information in the Village of Decker Oaks Newsletter is exclusively for the private use of Village of Decker Oaks residents only.

DISCLAIMER: Articles and ads in this newsletter express the opinions of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Peel, Inc. or its employees. Peel, Inc. is not responsible for the accuracy of any facts stated in articles submitted by others. The publisher also assumes no responsibility for the advertising content with this publication. All warranties and representations made in the advertising content are solely that of the advertiser and any such claims regarding its content should be taken up with the advertiser.* The publisher assumes no liability with regard to its advertisers for misprints or failure to place advertising in this publication except for the actual cost of such advertising.* Although every effort is taken to avoid mistakes and/or misprints, the publisher assumes no responsibility for any errors of information or typographical mistakes, except as limited to the cost of advertising as stated above or in the case of misinformation, a printed retraction/correction.* Under no circumstances shall the publisher be held liable for incidental or consequential damages, inconvenience, loss of business or services, or any other liabilities from failure to publish, or from failure to publish in a timely manner, except as limited to liabilities stated above.



Rule Number One: Must Have Clean HumorNetworking. This will either sound exciting to you or send a

shudder up your spine. Whether you are a spouse wondering what in the world you are going to talk about at the next office get together outside of business or wondering how you can stand out in the crowd of other entrepreneurs, here are Rules to Successful Networking that may help smooth your nerves.

Nothing says stay away from me faster than a bad, tasteless joke, or worse, to have someone remember you for the wrong reasons. It is hard to find clean jokes to make everyone smile and for certain have someone else remember you as they repeat a clean joke when they get home or at the office the next day to get a few laughs.

So when "Want to hear a dirty joke?" has everyone leaning in.... say,"Actually, I do have one (Dramatic pause or have everyone lean

in....)"White horse.....fell in the mud......and got dirty! Argh. Argh. Say

"Oh yes, you are groaning, but I'll bet you'll find yourself repeating it somewhere down the line!"

Laugh or Groan. Hey, someone will fall for this joke. Okay, Okay, you'll just have to know your audience, but when it was my job a long time ago to find good, clean jokes I really, really found out how hard it was to FIND a good, clean joke. At networking events, you'll have only a few minutes and all heads turn when you hear laughter, right? Here is one that I bet you'll repeat at least once!

Best Clean JokeThe local sheriff was looking for a deputy, so a young woman (or

gentleman), went in to try out for the job."Okay," the sheriff drawled. "What is 1 and 1?""Eleven," she/he replied.The sheriff thought to himself, "That's not what I meant, but

that is right.""What two days of the week start with the letter "T"?""Today and tomorrow."He was again surprised that the young woman/man supplied a

correct answer that he had never thought of himself."Now, listen carefully: Who killed Abraham Lincoln?"The young woman (or gentleman) looked a little surprised herself/

himself, then thought really hard for a minute and finally admitted, "I don't know."

"Well, why don't you go home and work on that one for a while?"So, the young woman (or gentleman) excitedly met with her/his

friends, and they just couldn’t wait to hear the results of the interview.The young woman(or gentleman) was excited beyond belief.

"It went great! First day on the job and I'm already working on a murder case!"

At least start the chuckling yourself. Go ahead be bold and say a joke anyway. A clean joke.

Second Best Clean Joke …A jock and a geek were applying for the same job. The boss said,

"Boys, you need to take a test before you can get this job."

So they took the test and the next day they came back to see who the boss chose. "Well, he said, "Both of you got the same score except I'm going to choose the geek."

The jock complained, "Don't you think that's unfair?""Well," the boss said, "Let me tell you what happened. Both of

your papers were right all the way through until the last question came up, and the geek answered, "I don't know," and then when I looked at your paper, you answered,

"Me either!"When the chuckling subsides, say "I only have two jokes". I

am always looking for another one to trade up, has anyone heard something funny lately?

Rule Number Two: Be InterestingTo be remembered as someone who IS interesting, you'll have to

BE interested in other people. Yes, it pays to have something to add to the conversation, and you'll be forearmed after reading the rules of Networking above. Have a few questions ready in case there is a pause in the conversation.

What keeps you occupied outside of your business? This question will help you gain common ground or something interesting to write about in your follow up note.

Top Three Tips To Be Remembered In Any Situation

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(Continued on Page 7)



Imagine this. What if you had a guide that would guarantee you a longer life, prevent heart disease, and help you feel stronger and healthier starting right now? What if you had a road map that would improve your quality of your life and give you the energy and time to invest in your life goals?

Believe it or not, there is such a guide.On January 20th 2010, the American Heart Association

announced its new health impact goal: to improve the cardiovascular health of all Americans by 20 percent while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke by 20 percent. That’s a big goal! How can the AHA possibly achieve it?

The answer? By helping people identify and adopt healthier lifestyle choices. For the first time, the American Heart Association has defined "ideal cardiovascular health," and identified seven health factors and lifestyle behaviors that support heart health. The American Heart Association calls these “Life’s Simple Seven.” Improvements in these seven areas can greatly impact your quality of life and life span.

Between 2000 and 2010 death rates from heart disease dropped nearly 40% and deaths from stroke dropped by about 35%; that’s a big deal. BUT, despite this, heart disease and stroke are still leading causes of death. It’s true we’ve been told what we can and can’t do; (wag finger) “no red meat, no donuts, not too much alcohol, take this pill but not that one, no cheating over the holidays.” This list of negatives can make anyone rebel. Instead of living in fear of disease, why not embrace your best health potential? This is a life success plan. That’s a plan that works for everybody: men and women, children and adults, and older folks, too. It’s about life satisfaction and living well. Best research now tells us that if you are a 50-year-old man or woman in optimum heart health your life expectancy is at least another 40 years—and that’s 40 years free of heart diseases and stroke. We are talking about good living, not just existing. Importantly, everything in the plan is within reach and it’s cost-effective for everyone. Curing heart disease may be some time coming. If you already have heart disease, breakthrough discoveries are happening every day, but you can still help yourself. In fact, nearly everyone can adopt this plan. Think about this new goal and the simple seven; join the American Heart Association in helping to build a healthier world, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Let me emphasize, these are not just “seven good ideas.” These are THE seven most important things you can do to live a healthy life free from cardiovascular disease and stroke!

My Life Check is an accurate assessment of how you are doing in the seven areas. It’s based on the knowledge and expertise of medical experts from the American Heart Association. Once you’ve taken My Life Check, your heart score will help you understand what simple steps you may need to take to improve your heart health and quality of life. From there you will be directed to specific action plans that will teach you how to change your behaviors and move you closer to your individual health goals.

Manage Blood PressureHypertension, or high blood pressure, is the single most significant

risk factor for heart disease. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can injure or kill you. It's sometimes called "the silent killer" because it has no symptoms. One in three adults has high blood pressure, yet about 21% don’t even know they have it. Of those with high blood pressure, 69% are receiving treatment, but only 45% have their blood pressure controlled.

Never judge your blood pressure by how you feel or your best guess. High blood pressure has no obvious symptoms until serious damage is well underway. No one can afford to ignore blood pressure. It’s a problem for one out of three American adults, and many of those affected are not even aware.

Also, learn healthy habits for eating well and staying active. If you can, don’t do it alone; get the whole family involved. When your whole family commits to staying active and eating right, you’ll cultivate good habits you will all use for life. What better gift is there to give?

Get ActiveThe evidence is clear: people who exercise have better health than

those who do not.A recent American Heart Association survey shows that fewer than

two out of every ten Americans get the recommended 150 minutes or more of moderate physical activity each week, so you are not alone.

Just like eating, sleeping, and brushing your teeth, physical activity is one of life’s basics; it must be done. Just move in some way that increases your heart rate.

We’re not talking about marathon training here. Choose activities you can enjoy. A walking program has the best success rates because people stay with it. But do what works for you. If it gets your heart rate up for 30 minutes, it counts. Just do something. Break into two sessions of 15 minutes each if that works best for you.

Control CholesterolLet’s be clear about what cholesterol is and why it’s important

for reaching your health goals. Everyone has cholesterol. It’s the waxy substance in your bloodstream and cells. Some cholesterol is important for good health, but too much cholesterol in your blood puts you at major risk for heart disease and stroke. When too much LDL (or bad) cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up inside the walls of your arteries that feed your heart and brain. Cholesterol particles get lodged into your arterial walls and get stuck there. Then cholesterol combines with other substances in your blood to form plaque--a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible, putting you at major risk for heart disease and stroke. Remember: you want your blood to able to “go with the flow” so keep cholesterol low!

How do you control cholesterol? First, follow your healthcare provider’s advice, which will likely include making healthy food choices. About 25% of your cholesterol comes directly from what

February is Heart Health Month



VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKSyou eat, so we have a lot of control of those numbers. Pay attention to your food choices. Always.

Next, get active. You can never be “too busy” to exercise. Make physical activity a habit and you’ll realize the benefits almost immediately. Not only will it help your cholesterol, but you’ll lower your blood pressure, control your blood sugar by improving how your body uses insulin, reduce feelings of stress, control your weight and make you feel good about yourself.

Eat BetterYour body is counting on you to choose a wide variety of foods

that are high in nutrition and fiber and low cholesterol and fat. If you were to write down every single bite that you put into your mouth during a day, what do you think you would learn about your nutrition habits?

Eating for good health means choosing lots of fruits and vegetables, whole-grain carbohydrates, and fat-free or low fat dairy products and training yourself to avoid foods and drinks with high sodium or added sugar. Another perhaps surprising part of healthy eating is to regularly include fish rich in Omega-3’s. It’s great for your heart and your brain. These guidelines are important for your whole family. Everyone in your house will benefit from eating this way.

It can be tough to change eating habits, but it’s easier when you have a plan. Take stock of what you have in your kitchen at home. What do you see? Do you have plenty of healthy options? Is your pantry stocked with whole grain cereal, oats, whole-wheat bread, whole grain crackers and pasta, and lots of heart-healthy seasonings? Is the refrigerator stocked with fresh fruits and veggies, fat-free milk, yogurt, and healthy proteins?

Keep a food journal, even you only do it for one or two days. It will help you become aware of what you eat and find out how your choices measure up. A food journal makes it easy to see the areas where you can make simple improvements.

Finally, substitute good choices. If you have a lot of junk in your kitchen, you’ll be tempted to eat it when you’re in a hurry, but with good planning, when you’re in a hurry, you can grab an apple or another healthy treat instead.

Lose WeightIf you’re overweight, don’t waste your energy feeling guilty or

bad about it. Instead, do something positive. BMI is key. BMI is a height-to-weight comparison that helps you identify the healthy weight target for your height. If your BMI is higher than 25, you need to bring that number down.

Weight loss is best achieved over time and with a commitment to better health. Losing weight means changing the balance of calories in to calories out. If we eat more calories than we need, we gain weight. If we eat fewer calories than we use, we lose weight. So start with good information. Know how many calories you need each day for your level of activity, and then find ways to stay within your limits. You might even keep a food journal at first to help you notice how much you are eating and whether you’re eating out of habit instead of real hunger.

There are few steps you can take to reduce the number of calories

you take in. Plan your healthy-eating calories and stick with your plan. When you get tired and hungry, you’re more likely to stop for fast food or snack on junk. Plan healthy meals and snacks to help break that habit. If you have kids, invite them to help plan. Educate yourself and your kids about healthy food choices. When you “feed your motivation” by reading nutrition articles and recipes, you engage your motivational brain. Read up on healthy food preparation, like steaming your veggies and avoiding extra fats. Read food labels and avoid foods that are high in sugar, saturated fat, trans fat and calories.

But remember, there are two sides to weight loss. Often, when we diet, we focus on decreasing our calorie intake, but there’s another, equally important factor. We need to increase the calories we burn.

I’m going to say it again--regular physical activity, even 30 minutes a day, is essential. Besides helping you lose weight, it also helps reduce your abdominal fat and preserve muscle during weight loss. We’re all different, so the amount of exercise we each need for weight loss will vary, but a good plan includes 30 to 45 minutes of moderate physical activity, like brisk walking, done nearly every day.

Don’t SmokeEven if you’ve smoked for years, your body can start the repair

process as soon as you stop harming it with more smoke. If you’re ready to start your plan for smoke-free health, it’s a good idea to talk with your healthcare provider. Medication can be helpful for some people during the kick-the-habit phase and research shows combining medical and behavioral therapies can increase success rates. But with or without a prescription, here’s a good plan to improve your chances for success.

First, focus on the rewards. It’s a lot more satisfying to make life-changes when you focus on the positive rewards that motivate you. So today, make a list of all the benefits you’ll experience by tossing out


(Continued from Page 4)


VILLAGE OF DECKER OAKSthose cigarettes. Think of the money you’ll save, the benefits to your health (and to the health of those around you), and the satisfaction of conquering your cravings. Write down any personal benefit you can think of and keep your positive list handy.

Second, plan your response to roadblocks. The hardest part is usually the first couple of weeks.

Here’s what one gentleman determined to quit did to get past those roadblocks. He wore a rubber band around his wrist and whenever had the urge to smoke, he’d snap himself, check the clock, and go over his positive motivation list. He had made a deal with himself that he would wait 15 minutes from the rubber band snap to allow the craving to pass. If it wasn’t gone in 15 minutes, he would go for a walk or do something else to help get rid of his tension.

Make a plan now for how will you distract yourself during those first few tough weeks. Start by planning out day one. Be creative. You can quit one day at a time. And remind yourself that the difficulty is TEMPORARY! The craving to smoke will not last forever and once you get past that challenging part, you’ll be well on your way to better health.

Third, choose your reinforcement. Mark a big red X on your calendar for every day you conquer. It will be a visual reminder of what you’re accomplishing. For other ideas, check out some of the material on the My Life Check website.

Reduce Blood SugarOur digestion turns all carbohydrates into sugar or glucose which

is then carried throughout your bloodstream to give you energy. Complex carbohydrates like whole-wheat breads and grains, and fruits and vegetables take longer to digest, helping to keep your energy supply steady. But simple sugars, like sweets, donuts, and white bread are very quickly converted into glucose, which can cause your body to call for extra surges of a hormone, insulin, to help regulate the energy supply. If your blood sugar is high, as often happens when you maintain a diet with too many simple carbohydrates, it encourages the growth of plaque in your arteries. While this is bad on its own, problems can become much worse when your body gets resistant to insulin or you simply stop making insulin altogether. This condition, known as diabetes, is treatable but very dangerous, and can often lead to heart disease and stroke. Even if you don’t have diabetes, you

need to know your blood sugar level. Be sure to get a blood sugar level test after fasting at least every three years, because controlling glucose is an important part of stopping heart disease before it starts.

If your blood sugar level is higher than the ideal, here’s what you can do to make a positive difference in your life and health. First, make good food choices. Choose a good balance of nutritious foods that take time to convert into glucose. It’s a good idea to eat small portions and include foods like oats, granola, pears, oranges, peas, and beans, all of which are a great source of complex carbs. Drinking enough water can also help your lower your blood sugar.

Second, commit to a physical activity routine. Physical activity breaks down carbs more quickly, which helps get them out of the bloodstream and lowers the sugars. For diabetic individuals, exercise is often just as essential as medication because it is so effective at blood sugar regulation.

And third, make sure you maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight, even losing as few as ten pounds can go a long way toward helping your blood sugars stay controlled.

Remember, Life’s Simple Seven work together to help you build a better and stronger life, so by investing in improving in one area, like your blood sugar levels, you are likely to improve your weight and nutrition, too.

However, without a plan, you’ll be at an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and other illnesses and disabilities. You may see a increased need for surgeries and other medical treatments, and you’ll almost certainly face a diminished quality of life.

But with Life’s Simple Seven, you can KNOW you’re taking care of yourself to reach your best health potential for yourself and for those you love!

Focus on your goal: feeling your best and living a healthy life. By taking small steps one day at a time, one meal at a time, and one walk at a time, you will start to notice a difference in your energy level and your sense of well-being as you choose good health. Let’s plan for many years of living well, and I hope you’ll join me in taking the simple seven to heart.

For more information please visit http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/My-Life-Check

*References – American Heart Association, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/




Have you seen any good movies lately? Did you see .....? See, this is where you will sound interesting.

That was terrible about .....Did you see it on the news this morning?What are your thoughts on ?Getting other people to talk about themselves and their interests

ultimately makes you more interesting.

Your mission: look in the newspaper, look at your local networking clubs and go make some new clients, friends or even dates! You don't have to be a Toastmaster to feel comfortable in

new environments.Oh, a Bonus Rule. Keep

your nails nice. Keep your nails nice. Whether handing your business card over to your next big

client or holding a drink (preferably soda), you'll be sending a message that you

think about yourself as much as you'll care about them as an account.Rule Number Three: Remember NamesActually, Rule Number Three: Remember Names should be

Rule Number One. Remembering names is crucial. Asking for a business card. Ask how they spell it. Except for the easy, easy names. Try "Is that Linda with an "i" or a "y"? Making up a rhyme, word association, movie association, actor association. Be deliberate and really slow to repeat their names in your head or at least in re-working the introduction. "My pleasure to meet you, Linda". You'll already be thinking of your next question, so please think slowly on remembering someone's name. As crazy as it sounds, try saying "Linda, Linda, Banana Fanna Bo Binda Fee Fi Bo Binda, Linda" (ahem, in your head, please). Anything works. ;You'll surely brighten someone's day and impress them with your Savant-mindedness. Don't use this if you wind up saying "My pleasure to meet you, BInda"? or worse "Bimba".

Linda Bates is a Freelance Writer who has been writing and volunteering in the Houston area community since BEFORE the word “Apple” actually meant fruit.




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